Philipp Karner


Philipp Karner is an Austrian American actor, director, and screenwriter who is best known for starring in the film Kiss the Bride. He made his directorial debut with the 2015 film Like You Mean It.

Early life

Philipp Karner was born July 15, 1979, in Vienna, Austria, where his parents were both social workers. He has a younger brother and younger sister. He came out of the closet to his family when he was 15 or 16 years old, although Karner told the press that he struggled with his sexuality for several more years and even dated a girl for a time.
Karner knew he wanted to be an actor from an early age. When he was 12, he was cast as the young Johann Strauss II in the Austrian television miniseries The Strauss Dynasty. After his year of military service in Austria, he moved to Paris, France, for the summer when he was 18. At age 19, he emigrated to the United States in the fall of 1997.

Career

Karner studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Studio in New York City.
He appeared in a few off-Broadway plays, and in television shows such as , Everwood, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, Will & Grace, and Without a Trace. He became more generally known after starring in the 2007 comedy film Kiss the Bride. He also appeared in the 2010 film Fair Game and the Swedish-German miniseries West of Liberty.

Writing, directing, and producing

Karner co-wrote and co-produced the 2013 film Diving Normal. He wrote, produced, and directed the 2015 motion picture Like You Mean It.

Personal life

Karner lived in New York City after emigrating to the United States, but has lived in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Until about 2012, he was a bartender at The Abbey, a gay bar in West Hollywood.

Filmography